On July 15, 2025, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS), returned to Earth aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, named Grace, as part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission. The spacecraft splashed down off the coast of San Diego, California, at 3:01 PM IST, concluding an 18-day mission. The crew, consisting of Shukla, Commander Peggy Whitson, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary, undocked from the ISS on July 14 at 4:15 AM IST, completing a 22.5-hour journey back to Earth.

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During the mission, Shukla piloted the Dragon spacecraft and participated in over 60 experiments, including studies on microgravity’s effects on muscle loss, digestion, and mental health. He also conducted research on plant growth, capturing images of moong and methi seeds sprouting in microgravity. The mission involved research from 31 countries, with the spacecraft returning over 580 pounds of cargo, including NASA hardware and experimental data.

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The splashdown was confirmed by SpaceX, and the crew was scheduled for medical evaluations and a seven-day rehabilitation program to readjust to Earth’s gravity. The Ax-4 mission marks India’s second human spaceflight, following Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission, and is part of preparations for India’s Gaganyaan program, planned for 2027. (Rh/Eth/RS)